More than two-thirds of motorists worry about being killed on the roads, yet only one per cent reckon they are worse-than-average drivers, according to a survey.

Almost all motorists believe they are safer than, or as safe as, the average driver, the poll by road safety charity Brake and insurance company Direct Line found.

Yet only one per cent of the 800 people surveyed reckon the roads are full of safe drivers.

Also, 35 per cent consider there are more dangerous drivers than safe ones, while 31 per cent feel safer driving a car than travelling by any other form of transport. But only five per cent reckon that being a car passenger is the safest transport mode.

Brake said the survey suggested that many drivers over-estimate their driving ability, while blaming other drivers’ risky driving for crashes on the roads.

It added that in reality, a high proportion of drivers continue to regularly take risks such as speeding, drink-driving or driving when tired.

Brake campaigns director Julie Townsend said: “Being over-confident, and believing you can get away with risk-taking, is a really dangerous attitude behind the wheel. If you drive, you have a responsibility to yourself and others to stay within the law.”

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